(Info) About The IGCSE Education

The International General Certificate of Secondary Education
(IGCSE) is a globally recognised qualification, taken at the Class 10 level,
similar to the Class 10 examinations of the CBSE and ICSE or the middle years
Programme of the IB.

IGCSE, formed in 1988, is a comprehensive two-year programme, spread over
Class 9 and 10, and leads to the final examinations offered every year in May
and November. IGCSE assessment is conducted by two UK assessment bodies: Edexcel
(also known as London Examinations) and Cambridge International Examinations
(CIE) (see below).

A student who has passed IGCSE is eligible for any +2 level qualification,
like Class 12 CBSE/ ICSE or any international pre-university programme, like the
IB Diploma,
Advanced Placement Diploma (US), and A/AS Level & AICE (UK).

Comparison of IGCSE to other programmes like CBSE,
ICSE or the Middle Years Programme of the IB

Like other modern programmes, IGCSE offers a wider range of subjects and
encourages high academic standards through a practical approach to teaching
and learning. Assessment is not limited to conventional written papers and
they consist of a variety of tests e.g. oral and listening tests.

The assessment is aimed at a wide ability range of students, with an
eight-point grading scale, from A+ to G, with A+ being the highest.

IGCSE is a balanced curriculum and a flexible course of study.

Most subjects offer a choice between core curriculum and extended
curriculum.

This gives students of all ability levels the freedom to choose subjects
that are right for them and, thereby, the opportunity to score good grades.

The core curriculum is an overview of the subject and is suitable for
students who are expected to achieve grades C to G.

The extended curriculum is, sort of, a specialisation in that subject. It
is more challenging and designed for students who are expected to achieve
grades A+ to C.

While the syllabi and curricula of both IB MYP and IGCSE have an
international outlook, IGCSE appears to be slightly better, in that it is
tailored for a more multi-cultural and more multi-lingual audience.

Does the IGCSE start only in Class 9? What about the primary years? Can a
student do IGCSE after completing his/ her earlier schooling through a
different board?

Currently, IGCSE is a two-year programme starting at the Class 9 level. A
student who has done his/ her early schooling from any other board can join
the IGCSE programme at the Class 9 level.

CIE has declared the launch of its new Cambridge International Primary
Programme in June this year.

The introduction of this programme means students will be able to study
the IGCSE from age five through age18.

Subjects in the IGCSE curriculum

There are five Subject Groups in IGCSE with several subjects to choose from,
in each group:

Instead of the five papers needed to obtain the IGCSE, if a student attempts
and passes seven or more papers, s/he is awarded the ICE.

The seven subjects must be as follows:

Two subjects from the language group

One from each of the other four groups

One more from any of the five groups

Resons to select IGCSE

IGCSE is one of the most sought-after and recognised qualifications in the
world. It develops and encourages vital educational skills, including oral
skills, investigative skills, problem solving, team work, recall of
knowledge, and initiative.

The IGCSE programme has worldwide status and credibility. In India, the
course is delivered in over 130 schools
with the number expected to touch 600 by 2008. It is recognised by the
Association of Indian Universities
(AIU) as being at par with CBSE, ICSE, etc. Worldwide, it is delivered in
schools in over 140 countries and is recognised by colleges and universities
everywhere, more so in the UK and other Commonwealth countries.

The IGCSE curriculum is balanced and lends an international perspective to
studies. It also takes account of differing abilities of students.

IGCSE students can take advantage of the Cambridge Checkpoint, a
diagnostic service comprising of standardised tests, that pin-points a
student's strengths and weaknesses in key curriculum areas.

Edexcel and CIE

Edexcel is the UK's largest academic qualifications awarding body.

It was formed in 1996 by the merger of two well-respected bodies, BTEC (the
Business & Technology
Education Council), and ULEAC (the University of London
Examinations and Assessment Council).

In 2003, Edexcel merged with the education giant, Pearson PLC, to set up a
new company called Edexcel Limited, which is 75% owned by Pearson and 25% by the
Edexcel Foundation.

CIE is the international division of University of Cambridge Local
Examinations Syndicate (UCLES).

UCLES is another UK-based academic qualifications awarding body, known for
its professional, rigorous and high standard assessments.

UCLES is a department of the University of Cambridge, which was formed in the
year 1207, and is one of the oldest and most reputed universities in the world.

What is a Cambridge International Centre? What is an
Edexcel Centre or a London Examinations Centre?

Schools that are accredited to Edexcel or CIE for the conduct of the IGCSE
programme are known as Edexcel Centres or Cambridge International Centres.

From parents' or students' perspective, there is little difference between
the two.

Some schools are accredited to Edexcel and some to CIE. For example, DPS
International in Delhi is an Edexcel IGCSE centre, while the Pathways World
School in Gurgaon is a CIE IGCSE centre.

Then there are some like Calcutta International School in Kolkata and British
School in Delhi, which are centres of both Edexcel and CIE.

More than the assessment body, parents need to think about which school is
better for their child.

Some prominent IGCSE schools in India are:

West India

Dhirubhai Ambani International School, Mumbai -- Day school

Ecole Mondiale World School, Mumbai -- Day school

Ahmedabad International School, Ahmedabad -- Day School

Riverdale International School, Pune -- Residential school

North India

DPS International School, Delhi -- Day school

Pathways World School, Gurgaon -- Residential school

Woodstock School, Mussoorie -- Residential school

G D Goenka World School, Gurgaon -- Mixed (both Boarding and Day)

South India

The International School of Bangalore, Bangalore -- Mixed (both Boarding
and Day)